The Smile
She told him she would always love him… when he told her, he’d met someone else.
“But you’ll never hurt me again,” she vowed.
He said nothing. Because there was nothing to say. He knew he’d broken her heart.
Before he left, she smiled. “I want you to remember me smiling,” her last words, as she watched him go.
It took less than a year for him to realise what he’d lost.
Now, tormented, he searches for the one thing he can never have. The smile for which he hungers.
The smile that continues to haunt him, night and day.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHa, that’ll teach him! Great story, Linda
Thanks, Carrie. Borrowing the words from the Joni Mitchell song, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’.
Linda, I want to say a touching story with a salient lesson. I can remember Janet Jackson sang a song with the same line, “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.”‘
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you, Thompson. That line is so very true.
Too late to realize. And now, he lost a diamond while busy collecting stones. Well done.
You are so right, Lotchie! Thank you, your comments are always very much appreciated.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou’re welcome, Linda.
I love this interpretation of the prompt, Linda. I think it was brilliant to show a completely different meaning and power to the “smile” than usual. The last line sent shivers. Excellent!
Thank you so much, Preston! Your comments are always so supportive. I did try to think outside the box when writing this story.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleLinda, your stories just improve and improve. Love the symbolism, simple sentences, almost Everyman use of unnamed characters and the heartache. Reading this story outside with rain on a hard roof, the timeless rhythmic pounding of the Caribbean ocean is a perfect setting enhancing your dramatic story!
Thank you so much, Margarida! I’ve learnt so much from being part of the Voice-Club community. The prompts have really fired up my imagination and I’ve gained more self-confidence from the supportive comments I’ve received from the talented authors on here. I’m now imagining you reading my story in such a dramatic setting! Sounds wonderful!
In Sweden, there’s a saying that goes, “You don’t miss the cow until the stall is empty,” meaning that we often take good things for granted without appreciating them until they aren’t there any more. Your story reminded me of that saying. That doesn’t mean that I am comparing the protagonist in your story with a cow! Far from it. She is a brave and intelligent woman who knows how to best… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleNow there’s a question, Christer! And to be honest, I’m torn! Yes, as you say, she is brave and intelligent but she is also in love. And he, I think we can agree, feels the same. I’m not saying he would have an easy ride, he would need to convince her he is sincere but, the romantic in me, would be happy for them to be reunited! Other readers, of course, may… Read more »